The facilities may be cutting edge and the topics might appear liberal but [Mark] Driscoll points out that his beliefs are strict. He is a Calvinist, and believes that people's fates are predetermined.

"I believe that Jesus is God, I believe the Bible is true, I believe people are really going to hell," he said. "Those things in our culture are seen as crazy.

"If you are not a Christian then you do not have eternal life," he implored in a sermon, although it's not all fire and brimstone.

From his home office, filled with an impressive library, he showed some of his most cherished possessions, including a game-used Reggie Jackson baseball bat and a hand-written letter from Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1873.

"He's kind of one of my heroes," Driscoll said of the influential British Reformed Baptist preacher known as the "Prince of Preachers."

"He had the first mega-church in the history of the world. Five thousand people."

Another one I caught when running this week. You may remember that Mr. Driscoll was recently featured in the New York Times magazine (that blog thread is there). I recommend the video version but if you do not have the capability to view it, then do read it all.

Filed under: * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Evangelicals

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